Odisha ponzi firm chief pressured not to divulge names to CBI ?

With a strong possibility that the CBI court in Odisha would give CBI the permission to take Pradip Sethy, CMD of Artha Tatwa Group, on a 14-day remand today, reliable sources said the ponzi firm owner has already been warned by some officials at the Jharpada Special Jail not to reveal the names of the political leaders and bureacrats to the Central agency during interrogation.

Pradip Sethy, AT Group chief

According to reports, a group of high-profile persons were spotted at the gate of the Jharpada Jail, where Sethy is lodged, on Sunday morning. Sources said, they were found sending messages to Sethy through some jail officials.

The sources further said that these jail officials, during an hour-long discussion with Sethy, pressured and warned him not to reveal the name of any political leader or bureaucrat during interrogation by the CBI officials.

Though Sethy heard them patiently, he did not say anything, the sources said, adding that the rush near the jail had continued till 1 PM.

It is worthwhile here to mention that some tainted political leaders and bureaucrats are in a state of panic following the recent CBI raid on Banki BJD MLA Pravat Tripathy and other influential persons in connection with their involvement with the AT Group.

The VIP beneficiaries have reasons for worry after Sethy told media persons outside the CBI court on Saturday that as many as 55 persons had been taken Rs 65 crore from his firm in the form of loans that were never paid back, donations and protection money.